The tight end position seems to always end up hurting fantasy football managers who don’t draft Travis Kelce. Which disappointing early-drafted tight end can be counted on in Week 5: Darren Waller or Kyle Pitts?
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Darren Waller’s Fantasy Outlook This Week
Honestly, Waller was my favorite target at tight end in all my fantasy drafts this season. I saw him as a talented top-end guy with opportunity attached to a possibly improving quarterback. I believed that drafting Waller kept me from having to stream tight ends all season.
I have seen the disaster that has been the first four weeks of the 2023 season up close, and it is not a good look. Waller is averaging four catches for 40 yards per game and has not caught a touchdown this season.
This week’s matchup should be a good one against the Miami Dolphins. Waller ranks in the top 10 among tight ends in our rankings. The Dolphins rank in the bottom 10 against the position, and the New York Giants will likely be down and throwing most of the game. With Saquon Barkley possibly not at 100% (or playing at all), Waller will be more necessary for the Giants to be somewhat competitive.
Kyle Pitts’ Fantasy Outlook This Week
It is a crime what has happened to Kyle Pitts with the Atlanta Falcons. Pitts’s talent has not had an opportunity to show through in the run-first Desmond Ridder-led offense. Head coach Arthur Smith should trade Pitts now and set him free — if not for him, for the rest of us. Pitts is averaging three catches for 30 yards and has not caught a touchdown this season.
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Pitts, unfortunately, ranks as a TE2 — which is not a thing in fantasy. He could pop off any day due to his immense talent, but he can’t throw it to himself. Pitts is the hardest player for me to rank in all of fantasy this week vs. the Houston Texans, especially with the increased usage of Jonnu Smith in Week 4.
Which Tight End Should You Start?
How do we choose between talented tight ends who have not produced this year?
For me, it is two-fold: I bumped Pitts down even lower now that he may be the TE2 on his team. Furthermore, I bumped Waller up due to the matchup with the Dolphins. Start Darren Waller over Kyle Pitts in Week 5 if you, unfortunately, have them both.